Moisture removing device for air compressor systems



M. DACH April 6, 1943.

MOISTURE REMOVING DEVICE FOR AIR COMPRESSOR SYSTEMS Filed De -F21. 1940 3 Sheets*Sheet 1 COMPRESSOR wrrusssss ATTORNEYS M. DAC ZH 2,316,052

MOISTURE REMOVING DEVICE FOR AIR COMPRESSOR SYSTEMS April 6, 1943.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 21, 1940 a m .H

INVENTOR max Z7czO71/ ATTORNEYS ITNCSSES April 1 3- M. DACH 2,316,052

MOISTURE REMOVING DEVICE FOR AIR COMPRESSOR SYSTEMS Filed Dec. 21, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 y blry-f BY I M V ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 6, 1943 MOISTURE REMOVING DEVICE FOR AIR. COMPRESSOR SYSTEMS Max Dach, Flushing, N. Y.

Application December 21, 1940, Serial No. 871,167 I 1 Claim. (CL 303-88) This invention relates to air compressors and machinery operated by compressed air. More particularly, the invention relates to mechanism for cleaning compressed air and removing from the tank, water, oil, dirt or other foreign matter.

It is well known that moisture or foreign matter collects at the bottom of air tanks and unless removed causes rust, gumming, and premature wear of piston and valve parts.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a mechanism for removing from the tank and lines moisture and foreign matter without releasing the pressure in the tank.

Another object is to perform the functions indicated automatically and thus avoid the possibility of losing pressure due to open valves.

A further object is toprovide a simple and economical device which will require a minimum of care and upkeep.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of the invention;

Fig, 2 is a side view in section of my device;

Fig. 3. is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the valve;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with the valve rotated;

Fig. 5 is a view partly in section taken on the line 5-.5 of Fig. 6, showing a modification of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7, i

Fig. 9 is a side view partly in cross-section showing a modification of the invention.

Fig. 1 illustrates an embodiment of my invention which involtes a tank III, a conventional compressor i I, .a pressu-re control I2, and a pipe l3 leading from the compressor to the tank. A tank outlet pipe I4 is provided with a valve IS. The valve It represents the valve controlling the passage of air to the mechanism (not shown) to be operated, such as doors, brakes, drills, etc. A pipe It leads from the pipe l4 to an air motor II. A drainage pipe 18 leads from the bottom of the tank III to a chamber Hi. It will be apparent that when the valve I5 is turned air from the tank In will pass through the pipe l4 to the machinery to be operated and that a portion of the air will be directed into the pipe l6 leading to the air motor ll.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a reciprocating air motor which includes a piston 20, a shaft 2| hearing a rack 22, and a spring 23. It will be seen that the spring 23 will tend to push the piston toward the end 240i the cylinder 25. The end 24 of the cylinder 25 includes an outlet port 26 controlled by a valve 21 and a valve 32, and an inlet port 28 from'the pipe l6 controlled by a valve 29. A snap switch 30 is operated by a sliding arm 3|, so that on each reciprocation of the shaft 2! the switch 30 will be reversed. As shown in Fig. 2, the valve 29 is open while the valve 32 mounted on the same stem as the valve 21 is closed. Whenever the valve i 5 is opened, air will pass from the pipe l6 through the port 28 and into the cylinder 25. When the cylinder is forced to the other end of the chamber, the sliding arm 3| will trip the switch 30 causing the valve 29 to close the opening 33 and the valve 32 will be moved forwardly so that air may escape through the port 26, the valve 21, at the same time, closing the opening leading from the pipe I6. As the air escapes, the spring 23 will push the shaft 2| forwardly until the end of the piston engagesthe shoulder 34 of the arm 3| to reverse the operation. The piston will continue to move back and forth operating the snap switch 30 as long as the valve i5 is open and the speed of the piston will depend upon the size of the pipe l6 and the amount of pressure maintained in the tank. It will also be seen that when the valve i5 is closed the piston will stop and remain stationary until the valve is again opened.

Engaging the rack 22 is'a segment 40 fixedly mounted on a shaft 4| by means of a screw 42. The shaft 4| extends through an extension 43 and engages a turntable valve 44. The shaft 4| is provided with a collar or bushing 45 which is partly cut away to limit its movement. The bushing 45 rests in a seat 46 and the valve 44 engages a valve seat 41 which has three openings,-one opening 48 communicates with the discharge pipe l8, the second opening 49 leads to a dirt chamber 50, and the third opening 5| connects with the atmosphere.

It will be seen that when the valve [5 isv opened to allow the passage of air through the pipe I4, air will enter the air motor I1, causing the piston 20 to reciprocate and then, through the action of the rack 22 and the segment 40, the shaft 4| will be caused to rotate a quarter turn or so and back again. Due to the pressure in the tank, water, dirt, or other matter will be discharged through the pipe i8 into the member 43 through the opening 48. As the valve 44 is rotated by the shaft 4|, its arc-shaped opening 55 will uncover two of the openings in the valve seat at a time. As shown in Fig. 3, one reciprocation will cause the openings and 40 to register with-the opening in the valve 40, thus allowing the dirty air to move through the valve into the dirt chamber 00. As the piston is pushed forwardly by the spring 23, the valve It will be rotated so that the openings 00 and II will be exposed, thus allowing the dirtyair from the chamber to be expelled through the opening SI into the atmosphere. It will be noted that I have constructed the chamber 50 so that it may be easily removed and cleaned and that the valve structure is held in place by a cap 58 and may be easily cleaned or repaired. 1

The modified form shown in Figs. 5 to 8 operates in the same manner except that the motor is operated by air entirely and does not have a spring similar to the spring 23. The opening in 65 in the same manner as heretofore described.

Air from the pipe I6 passes through the opening 66 to exert pressure on the piston head 63 when the valve 61 is moved inwardly to close the opening 08 and leav the opening 69 open. When the valve is moved to th position shown in Fig. 6, pressure is directed through the opening 08 and the piston head 63 will expel the air through the opening 00 and out through a port or opening 10. It will be seen that a valve 'II closes the port 12 in the position shown in Fig. 6. When the switch is niovedto the other position, the opening II In the modified valve 15, the opening 16 is U- shaped in cross-sectionand the valve seat "I1 is provided with four openings I8, 19, 00 and Ill. When the valve is in one position the opening or channel in the-valve will register with the opening 18 which connects with the pipe I8. It

2,810,052 7 v In the modification shownin'FIg.'9,the air motor I00 is similar in its operation to that shown in Fig. 2, but it is powered directly from the compressor rather than from the pipe II. The drainage pipe I0 leads from the tank in the same manner and the valve MI is similar to the valve-ll.- A pipe I02, however, extends from the compressor II tothe pressure control I2 which is conventional in size and operation. An additional pipe I03 leads from the pipe I02 to the motor I00. The pressure control contains 'an' automatically operated valve I05 with the rotatable member I06 having a T-shaped channel I01. When the compressor is in operation the disk illfi is'inthe position shown in Fig. 9, so

that air will pass directly to the tank I0. Air

' will also be forced through the pipe I02 to press will also register with an opening or port 19 leading to a pipe 82 which doubles around and termin'ates in the opening 80. The pipe 82 may be longer than is shown or may be provided with a chamber similar to the chamber intermediate its ends to provide a larger area if desired. When the valve is placed in'the opposite position,

atmosphere. It willbe seen that the air coming irom the-discharge pipe- I0 will pass successively through the passage 10, through the valve chan- -nel [6,.passage 19, pipe 02,'through the opening 1 00 into the channel-"I6 again and out through. the r v 99 ns U j v ie'.a m sp e the piston I00 backwardly against the spring I09 to rotate the disk valve I0I- and allow moisture or dirt in the pip I8 to go into the chamber". When the compressor is shut off the disk I06 rotates in a clockwise direction so that one end of the channel I0'I communicates with the port IIO into the atmosphere while the port III communicates with the pipe I02. The pressure is therefore released from the piston I08 and the spring I09 will move the piston toward the pipe I02 at the vsame time rotating the disk valve "I so that the moisture or foul air may go from the chamber 50 into the atmosphere. It will be appreciated that this operation will take place every time the compressor starts and stops, and that it is not dependent upon the passage of the air through the pipe ll. Moisture and dirt will therefore be drawn from the tank. I0 through the pipe I8 whenever the compressor operates as it does many times during the day even. though no air is drawn from the tank.

I claim:

pressor having an outlet pipe, a drainage pipe, a valve connected to said drainage pipe, a chamber communicating with said valve, an opening from the atmosphere to said valve, said valve being circular in shape and having a channel therein adapted to alternately connect said drainage pip with said chamber and said chamber with 1 neon.

In combination with an air tank and a com- 

